Liberty aims to make playoffs for first time
A win over Silverado had Liberty’s football team flying high last fall. But the Patriots quickly crashed and burned, losing the next three games and failing to make the postseason.
Liberty is hoping to avoid a similar stumble this year.
The Patriots (4-3, 2-2 Southeast League) beat the Skyhawks 21-18 last week and face one of three remaining undefeated local teams when they host third-ranked Del Sol (7-0, 3-0) at 7 tonight.
“Last year beating Silverado was like winning the Super Bowl,” first-year Liberty coach Rich Muraco said. “This year we’re still excited, but we have our eye on the bigger prize, which is making the playoffs. I’m hoping we don’t have that kind of letdown.”
Instead of fueling too much celebration or overconfidence, this season’s Silverado win might have been just what the Patriots needed. Liberty had dropped two in a row, losing 12-0 to Foothill and 17-14 in overtime to Basic.
“Last week’s game was a perfect bounce that we needed, especially on our homecoming night,” senior linebacker Samson Toalei said. “It just made us even more focused for this week. We’re starting to believe in each other, and we’re starting to work even harder to reach the top.”
Quarterback Samuel Tai said the win over Silverado has his team again thinking about making the school’s first postseason football appearance.
Liberty is in fourth place in the Southeast League with two league games left. The top four advance to the playoffs.
“That’s been our goal and mindset since back in the spring, to make the playoffs,” Tai said. “And we believe in it now, especially after that great win against Silverado. It was a real big morale boost for us after losing those two close games.”
Liberty’s defense has been strong all season, allowing an average of just 14.3 points. Only second-ranked Legacy has topped 20 points against the Patriots this year.
But Liberty must deal with one of the area’s top running backs in Del Sol’s Dezerick Reed, who has rushed for 1,129 yards and 10 touchdowns.
“Their running back, he looks like he’s a pretty dangerous back,” Muraco said.
Liberty has been inconsistent offensively, scoring well some weeks and self-destructing with turnovers in others.
“Our biggest problem all year has been turning the ball over and making stupid penalties at inopportune times,” Muraco said. “If we can control those two things, we should be right in the game with them. I anticipate a really close, nail-biter of a game.”
